Instant Pot Pasta

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Instant pot pasta recipe ! This easy pressure cooker pasta cooks in one pot, is family friendly, delicious and cooks in less than 15 minutes.

In this post you will learn how to make plain short pasta in the instant pot pressure cooker , with ground beef and how to cook pasta in tomato sauce.

Pasta is one food we enjoy eating. It’s so easy, quick to make and saves the day when i want to get dinner on the table in a short time. I like plain pasta in salads or cooked in tomato sauce as a meal . Served with sides like chicken, beef or vegetables, it makes a satisfactory dinner.

This recipe is for short pasta. For long pasta recipe check my post on instant pot spaghetti.

INSTANT POT PASTA RECIPE

These 3 recipes were made using my instant pot pressure cooker duo 6qt but you can use any other electric pressure cooker like ninja foodie. Cooking time with other brands may vary though.

All these 3 variations are cheap and easy to make, keeps you fuller for longer, a one pot dish therefore less utensils to clean afterwards.

I have used fusili in this post but you can use any other like penne. Let me show you how i make pressure cooker pasta.

WHAT IS PASTA

Pasta is a type of Italian food made from semolina (durum wheat) and water or eggs and can be formed into different shapes such as tube shape, long, short, decorative shapes like bowtie and more.

Common types of short pasta include penne pasta, fusili, spirali, farfalle, rigatoni while long pasta include linguine, fettucine and spaghetti.

1 cup of cooked plain pasta contain 212 calories of which 14% (41.4g) is carbohydrates, 7.8g protein, 1.2g fat and 2.4g fiber.

INGREDIENTS

Detailed ingredient list and directions in printable recipe card at the bottom of this post).

Pasta – short pasta like penne, fusili. I used fusili in this post.

Oil – Vegetable, coconut or sunflower oil.

Onion garlic

Smoked paprika

Italian seasoning

Black pepper or Cayenne

Chicken broth

Pasta sauce

Salt

Ground beef – Optional

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT PASTA

This one pot pressure cooker pasta is easy and quick to put together. Let me show you how:

1) Add oil in the pot of the instant pot then add onion and garlic. Sautee for few minutes then add in a cup of broth.

2) Deglaze instant pot then add in pasta in the pot.

3) Add paprika, black or cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning and salt in the pot then and in chicken broth.

4) Pour the tomato sauce on top. Don’t stir!

5) Cover the instant pot with it’s lid and turn the knob into sealing. Set to manual pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. When the instant pot completes the course of pressure cooking, switch it off and do 3 minutes natural pressure release.

6) Open the instant pot and stir the sauce in till pasta and sauce well mixed.

7) Serve and enjoy with sides of choice.

PLAIN PASTA IN INSTANT POT

1)Add pasta in the pot of the instant pot pressure cooker.

2) Add salt, water and oil.

3) Cover the instant pot with it’s lid and turn the knob into sealing. Set to manual pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. When the instant pot completes the course of pressure cooking, switch it off and do 3 minutes natural pressure release.

4) Open instant pot and serve.

INSTANT POT PASTA COOKED WITH GROUND BEEF

1)Prep the ingredients. Put on instant pot and set to saute mode.

2) Add oil in the pot then add in onions and garlic. Saute for few minutes then add the minced meat /ground beef.

3) Brown the beef (this takes about 5 minutes) then add in paprika, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning and salt then stir.

4) Add 1 cup broth in the pot and deglaze the instant pot by scraping any brown bits off the bottom of the pot.

This is to avoid getting burn error during pressure cooking.

5) Switch off saute mode then pour pasta in the pot on top of the minced meat.

6) Add the remaining broth then tomato sauce. Don’t stir.

7) Cover the instant pot with it’s lid and turn the knob into sealing. Set to manual pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes of pressure cooking, do a quick release.

8) Open the instant pot and stir till fusili, sauce and ground beef are well mixed.

Serve and enjoy.

INSTANT POT PASTA WATER RATIO

I add enough water to be atleast at the same level or just enough to cover pasta. This works out well all the time. No burn message and pasta is well cooked and not mushy.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH

For plain pasta, recommendations on what to serve with include

Protein like instant pot chicken thighs, instant pot chicken drumsticks

Vegetables like instant pot carrots, steamed cabbage

It can also be garnishished with cheese such as grated parmesan.

WHAT IS THE BEST PASTA TO USE

Any short pasta works fine but i particularly favour fusili and penne.

HOW LONG TO COOK PASTA IN INSTANT POT

5 minutes of manual pressure cooking on high and 3 minutes of natural release. I do the 3 minutes natural release to avoid foaming liquid spewing out of the pressure cooker. No spewing with this method.

TIPS

• Don’t forget to add salt to the pasta before pressuring cooking so it absorbs evenly.
• The oil help keeps pasta from sticking together
• Dried pasta doubles in size when cooked

HOW TO STORE

Uncooked pasta will last for a year if stored in airtight container and kept in a cool, dry place while cooked pasta will last in the fridge – Pasta will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.
In the freezer – It will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Put in freezer safe container or freezer bag, label with dates before putting in the freezer.
To reheat – Leave to thaw then reheat or microwave from frozen on high heat.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

Instant pot noodles

Best Instant pot chicken and rice

Instant pot chicken thighs

Instant pot chilli

If you make this pasta recipe, rate it and leave comment below. I love reading from you.

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